Custodial Services Programs

Fitness Program

Custodial Services at The University of Texas at Austin does more than keep our buildings in top shape.  As time goes on, many of us find it harder to stay healthy. With hectic schedules we often forget to take care of ourselves. Custodial Services has decided to focus on the well-being of our employees by taking a few minutes to prepare them physically and mentally for the start of their work day.

In the fall of 2010, Custodial Services began working with the university Kinesiology Department’s Fitness Institute of Texas (FIT) to create a program specifically for our custodial staff. Like most universities, we are fortunate to have many resources available to us to supplement our expertise in a multitude of areas. Following a few visits with the Kinesiology Department’s FIT staff we embarked on a cooperative effort to develop and implement a program aimed at reducing workplace injuries.

Development included looking at job descriptions for each function that is performed, then interviewing and observing our staff in action, and finally running some trial programs to see what did and didn’t work for our staff. The goal of the warm up program is to prepare our employees for the demands of the job and help reduce the risk of injury.

Our Award-Winning FIT Start Program:

Our program was the recipient of APPA's Effective & Innovative Practices Award. The APPA award recognizes programs and processes that enhance service delivery, lower costs, increase productivity, improve customer service, generate revenue, or otherwise benefit the educational institution.

• FIT Start Booklet (PDF)
• FIT Start Poster (PDF)
• APPA Award Application (PDF)

FIT Start Videos

Keeper of the Maces

Custodial Services does more than clean. We are also responsible for the upkeep and scheduled use of The University of Texas at Austin maces. The University has a collection of ceremonial maces that are carried at official occasions of the institution, such as Commencement and Honors Day. The original three maces, the Progenitors, were crafted by Professor Carl Eckhart in the spring of 1956 using wood preserved from the original Old Main building and were used for the first time in the Commencement exercises conducted on June 2, 1956. Professor Eckhart designed and fabricated 38 maces, in addition to the three Progenitors, representing the University and the University's various schools and colleges. Professor Eckhart's 41 maces comprise the original collection. Subsequently, seven more maces have been added to the collection, bringing the current total to 48. The mace collection is kept on regular display in the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL).

Information on Carl Eckhart  

UT Commencement History and Traditions

If you are interested in learning more about the history of the maces, please read the e-booklet below:

Download: The Maces of UT Austin Booklet (PDF, Large)

Extensive Training & Education

Custodial Services’ Training & Compliance branch has been instrumental in maintaining OS1 and ensuring all employees receive compliance training. It is important that our custodial staff understand the environmental impacts they may have within the campus buildings. For that reason, we not only train employees how to do the work, but why we do it. 

New Employee Orientation and Compliance Training

New Custodial Services employees are thoroughly trained before they begin directly serving the campus. The trainers cover compliance, employee health and safety, inclusiveness, department orientation and cleaning processes. Hands-on training takes place in the field during the probationary period with their designated crew leader. The training team conducts regular visits to reinforce training and ensure trainees apply classroom training in the field.

Continuing Education

Our training department strives to provide ongoing training out in the field as well as in the classroom. This ongoing training provides management the opportunity to communicate expectations and benchmark successes of the training program. These retraining sessions also identify areas of education and training that need adjusting to improve service to our customers.